A Buccaneer Debut
The pirate opera troupe's ship has been remodeled, and the script decided upon. As Karina predicted, practice for their original show has been going smashingly—which means it's time to set sail!
The crew come to call at a lone island in a remote region. When they inform the residents they'll be performing a free opera, word spreads across the island, packing the beach with spectators.
Mother: I came here because I heard an opera would be performed, but I don't know how we'll fit everyone onto that ship.
Girl: So we might not get to see it?
Islanders: Whooooa!
Boy: What's that?! It made that big noise when it came out of the ship!
Mother: It's a stage, dear—and I think they're going to perform on it!
Father: What an amazing setup... Now everyone here has a front-row seat to the show!
Opera Karina: Yar, this is going splendidly!
Lazry: Hold, lass. Are ye sayin' you've already thought up a way to do this thing?
Karina: The biggest part of a ship is the hull, so we'll stash the stage in there.
Rex: Well, that'd let you fit a stage that's the same size as the ship, all right—but where would your audience folks sit?
Karina: Outside! Ports and beaches can hold as many people as we want, so long as we can pull the ship close enough to shore.
Karina: Once we're in place, the stage slides out and everyone can enjoy the show!
Opera Karina: The flashy mechanism for the stage has got the audience stomping their feet... Talk about two gulls with one cannonball!
Pirate 1: Slitherin' eels, they're mighty fired up!
Pirate 2: Yaaaar, I be nervous...
Opera Karina: Courage, you lily-livered sods! The most important thing for a pirate is courage!
Pirate 3: B-but, Cap'n, what happens if I go out there and flub me lines?
Opera Karina: It went great in rehearsal, didn't it? So quit worrying!
Opera Karina: Have some confidence! You aren't any ordinary pirates anymore, remember?
Opera Karina: We're Karina's Pirate Opera Troupe, and we're so amazing that we can even impress a weeping baby!
Underling: Cap'n!
Pirate 2: Yar, Cap'n Karina be right! That's why she be writin' this opera just for us!
Pirate 1: Let's DO this, ye dogs! We'll show them landlubbers what ye get when a pirate sets their mind to somethin'!
Underling: Aye-aye!
Opera Karina: Looks like you've found your guts at last. Now on with the show!
Opera Karina: I am a princess in a cage... It is a fate than makes me rage! ♪
Opera Karina: The sky feels so very far away... I wish I could soar up there today... ♪
Father: So beautiful! Yet, so sad... *sniff*
Mother: Poor thing, forced into a marriage she didn't want... *sniff*
Opera Karina: (Oh, we're drawing 'em in now! You never can go wrong with a classic tragic heroine, am I right?)
Opera Karina: (Ah, but, this show doesn't end in tragedy. For you see...)
Opera Karina: (...This show is based on MY life!)
Opera Karina: But I spit in the eye of destiny... to forge a future made by me! ♪
Opera Karina: I'll break my cage! Shatter my bars! And set out tonight for the stars! ♪
Islanders: What?!
Girl: What's gonna happen to the princess?!
Mother: Let's watch and see, honey!
Opera Karina: (What happens next, they ask? Well, since this is my story, I happen to know...)
Pirate 2: Ho lads, look there! A young lady fair! All on her own, she hasn't a prayer! ♪
Opera Karina: (Now THAT'S a great performance! 'Course, they're pretty much playing themselves, so I should expect greatness.)
Pirate 3: Let's steal her away! Right this very day! We'll hold her for ransom and make her folks pay! ♪
Pirate 1: Seize her, ye scurvy dogs!
Opera Karina: (Oh, this really takes me back. I remember being taken on board their ship and meeting the original captain...)
Opera Karina: Am I on a ship?! Are you pirates true?! Too bad—I'm still not afraid of you! ♪
Pirate 1: Aye, pirates we be! Pirates most free! And pirates are always better than ye!
Opera Karina: Free! Such a wonderful word! Already I feel my heart stirred! ♪
Opera Karina: Please, let me join you!
Underling: Whaaat?!
Islanders: Whaaat?!
Pirate 1: Don't make light of us, lass! Don't you dare poke fun! 'Cause pirates are terrors who answer to none! ♪
Opera Karina: If courage you want, I have it in spades! I'll trade all I have in life for a blade! Just let me come with you! Let me be free! Let me have a life where I live as ME! ♪
Pirate 1: Yar, she's a brave lass and blessed... But can she pass the test?! ♪
Pirate 1: We two will stand on the edge of the deck. With sharks below ready to give us heck. If I fall first, then a pirate you be... But if you fall first, that's it for ye! ♪
Opera Karina: A challenge most fair! A challenge so true! But know that I'm going to defeat you! ♪
Pirate 1: R-really?! Y-yar, ye'll regret this, lassie!
Opera Karina: (Who would have thought a pirate wouldn't know how to swim? But he was too full of pride to back down, and in the end, he tumbled into the sea.)
Opera Karina: (But that's not part of the show today. It just wouldn't be right tossing him in the water when he can't swim.)
Pirate 1: ('Bout time for the surrender then, Cap'n. Accordin' to the script.)
Pirate 1: Yar...I can't keep this up... Whoa?!
Everyone: What?!
Islanders: Oh!
Pirate 3: Sweet hardtack! He fell for real!
Pirate 2: Yar, we be goin' off-book now! What do we do?!
Opera Karina: Don't lose focus! The audience is watching!
Pirates 2 & 3: ...!
Opera Karina: Look, it doesn't matter if we're off-book, because this REALLY HAPPENED! Just remember it and run with it!
Pirate 3: Yar, I just stood by watching nervously. I didn't have me the courage to leap into the sea with all them sharks.
Pirate 2: But Cap'n Karina did!
Opera Karina: Then it's decided!
Pirate 1: *glub* Yar, I be needin' HAAAALP!
Opera Karina: Are you all right?!
Pirate 1: Cap'n! Ye saved me!
Opera Karina: I'll take that as a yes. Now get your butt back on stage and finish this thing!
Opera Karina: We'll go right into the finale!
Pirate 1: Aye-aye!
Pirate 3: What a relief! The sea dog's okay! I thought he'd meet Davy Jones today! ♪
Pirate 1: This lass has beat me. This lass has won. Which means she's captain now, 'cause my time is done! ♪
Pirate 2: All hail the new captain! May she bring us all fame! But please, O fair captain... Please tell us your name! ♪
Opera Karina: I am Captain Karina! Now weigh anchor! Hoist the main! Mind the jib! The Karina Pirates are setting out!
Opera Karina: Huh? There's a ship approaching!
Enemy Pirate 1: Gahaaar har har! Look there, boys! It be Captain Karina and her crew!
Enemy Pirate 2: Lady Luck be on our side, ye sods! Time to exact a little payback for what happened to us last time!
Pirate 1: Cap'n, look at the flag! It's those dogs we wiped the deck with last time, by gar!
Opera Karina: They want revenge NOW?! We're just about to finish the damn show!
Boy: Mommy? Are those more pirates?
Father: This show is AMAZING! I can't believe they have a second ship all ready to go!
Mother: Um, I'm not sure that's...
Girl: Those other pirates are super yell-y... I'm scared! Waaaah!
Opera Karina: That's it! I am NOT going to let these soggy sods ruin my opera!
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